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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 6 april 2023
Pence won’t appeal order compelling grand jury testimony

By JILL COLVIN and ruling and will comply with
ERIC TUCKER the subpoena as required
Associated Press by law,” Pence spokesman
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Devin O’Malley said in a
spokesman for Mike Pence statement Wednesday.
said Wednesday that the The Trump team could still
former vice president will appeal the executive privi-
not appeal a judge’s order lege ruling from Boasberg.
compelling him to testify in The Jan. 6 and classified
the Justice Department’s records investigations are
investigation into efforts by being led by Jack Smith, a
Donald Trump and his allies former war crimes prosecu-
to overturn the results of the tor who was named by the
2020 election. Justice Department in No-
The decision sets up a possi- vember to serve as special
ble appearance by Pence counsel. It is not clear when
in the coming weeks be- the investigations might
fore a federal grand jury end or whether anyone will
scrutinizing attempts by the be charged.
former president and sup- Pence has spoken exten-
porters before the riot at sively about Trump’s pres-
the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, sure campaign urging him
to undo Democrat Joe to reject Biden’s victory in
Biden’s victory. Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the National Review Ideas Summit, March 31, 2023, the days leading up to Jan.
Multiple Trump administra- in Washington. 6, including in his book, “So
tion officials have testified Associated Press Help Me God.” Pence, as
in that investigation, as well since the end of their ad- a federal judge in Wash- as president of the Senate vice president, had a cer-
in a separate inquiry exam- ministration. ington last week rejected that day, he was protect- emonial role overseeing
ining Trump’s possession of The strain could grown as those arguments, forcing ed from being forced to Congress’ counting of the
classified documents, but Pence approaches a likely Pence to testify. testify under the Constitu- Electoral College vote, but
Pence would be the high- 2024 run for the presidency U.S. District Judge James tion’s “speech or debate” did not have the power to
est-profile witness to answer and a challenge to Trump, Boasberg did give Pence clause, which is intended affect the results, despite
questions before a grand who already is in the race a win by accepting argu- to protect members of Trump’s contention other-
jury. His closed-door testi- for the Republican nomina- ments from Pence’s law- Congress from question- wise.
mony could offer investiga- tion. After Pence was sub- yers that, for constitutional ing about official legislative Pence has said that Trump
tors a firsthand account of poenaed months ago by reasons, he could not be acts. endangered his family and
Trump’s state of mind in the the Justice Department’s questioned about his ac- “Having vindicated that everyone else who was at
pivotal weeks after he lost special counsel, lawyers for tions on Jan. 6. They had ar- principle of the Constitu- the Capitol that day and
to Biden and further expose Trump objected on execu- gued that because Pence tion, Vice President Pence history will hold him “ac-
the rift in their relationship tive privilege grounds. But was serving in his capacity will not appeal the judge’s countable.” q

Whitmer strikes 1931 abortion ban from Michigan law

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, just tion,” Whitmer said at a bill again amend the state con- said at the event Wednesday
Associated Press months after voters enshrined signing outside of Detroit. The stitution and repeal abortion that “this is far from the end
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (AP) abortion rights in the state’s 1931 abortion ban made it a rights. Whitmer’s signature of the story,” and that the
— A near-century old abor- constitution. four-year felony to assist in an Wednesday eliminated that Democratic-controlled State-
tion ban that fueled one “Today, we’re going to take abortion. Roe v. Wade had possibility, erasing the law house will continue expand-
of the largest ballot drives action to make sure that our made the law null and void completely. ing access to reproductive
in Michigan history was statutes and our laws reflect until the landmark decision “We cannot allow archaic health care.
repealed Wednesday by our values and our constitu- was overturned in June by laws to remain on our books Wednesday’s signing marked
the U.S. Supreme Court. under the assumption that another victory for abortion
Courts blocked the ban they’ll never be used again,” rights supporters in Michi-
from taking effect while a said Democratic state Rep. gan, who joined California
citizen-led initiative to en- Laurie Pohutsky. “We don’t and Vermont last November
shrine abortion rights in the know what the future will in enshrining abortion rights
state’s constitution received hold and we don’t know in their state’s constitution.
more signatures than any what plans abortion oppo- Kentucky, a reliably red state,
other ballot proposal in state nents have.” Last month, the rejected a ballot measure
history to put the question Michigan House and Senate aimed at denying any state

before voters. Voters over- each with a two-seat Demo- constitutional protections for
whelmingly approved the cratic majority voted to send abortion.
proposal in last November’s a repeal of the abortion ban Voters in Wisconsin elected
midterms, making the 1931 to the governor. A majority a Democratic-backed Mil-
law unconstitutional and un- of Republicans opposed the waukee judge Tuesday to
enforceable. bill, speaking out ahead of the state’s Supreme Court,
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs legislation to repeal the
1931 abortion ban statute, which criminalized abortion in nearly The 1931 ban could have the vote on the legality of ensuring liberals will take over
all cases during a bill signing ceremony, Wednesday, April 5, been enforced in the fu- abortion as a whole. majority control of the court
2023, in Birmingham, Mich. ture had voters collected Pohutsky, who sponsored the with the fate of the state’s
Associated Press enough signatures to once legislation repealing the law, abortion ban on the line. q